Lycopene Alleviates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Steatohepatitis through Inhibition of the ASK1-JNK Signaling Pathway.

Lycopene has been proven to alleviate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but the precise mechanisms are inadequately elucidated. In this study, we found a previously unknown regulatory effect of lycopene on the apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) signaling pathway in both in vivo and in vitro models. Lycopene supplementation (3 and 6 mg/kg/day) exhibited a significant reduction in lipid accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis of the liver in mice fed with a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet or a methionine-choline-deficient diet. RNA sequencing uncovered that the mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathway, which is closely associated with inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, was significantly downregulated by lycopene. Furthermore, we found lycopene ameliorated ER swelling and decreased the expression levels of ER stress markers (i.e., immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein, C/EBP homologous protein, and X-box binding protein 1s). Especially, the inositol-requiring enzyme 1α involved in the ASK1 phosphorylation was inhibited by lycopene, resulting in the decline of the subsequent c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling cascade. ASK1 inhibitor DQOP-1 eliminated the lycopene-induced inhibition of the ASK1-JNK pathway in oleic acid and palmitic acid-induced HepG2 cells. Molecular docking further indicated hydrophobic interactions between lycopene and ASK1. Collectively, our research indicates that lycopene can alleviate ER stress and attenuate inflammation cascades and lipid accumulation by inhibiting the ASK1-JNK pathway.

Lycopene Ameliorated DSS-Induced Colitis by Improving Epithelial Barrier Functions and Inhibiting the Escherichia coli Adhesion in Mice.

Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli plays an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Blocking the adhesion of E. coli to intestinal epithelial cells appears to be useful for attenuating inflammatory bowel disease. Lycopene has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. The aim of this study was to test the intervention effect of lycopene on colitis in mice and to investigate the possible mechanism through which lycopene affects the adhesion of E. coli to intestinal epithelial cells. Lycopene (12 mg/kg BW) attenuated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, decreased the proportion of E. coli, and activated the NLR family pyrin domain containing 12 and inactivated nuclear factor kappa B pathways. Furthermore, lycopene inhibited the adhesion of E. coli O157:H7 to Caco-2 cells by blocking the interaction between E. coli O157:H7 and integrin ß1. Lycopene ameliorated DSS-induced colitis by improving epithelial barrier functions and inhibiting E. coli adhesion. Overall, these results show that lycopene may be a promising component for the prevention and treatment of colitis.

Health benefits of proanthocyanidins linking with gastrointestinal modulation: An updated review.

Proanthocyanidins (PACs) are the bioactive components naturally present in daily diet, especially in fruits and vegetables. Multiple pieces of evidence suggested that ingestion of PACs or diets full of PACs might contribute to physiological benefits, such as metabolic syndrome regulation, immune modulation, cancer prevention, and neuroprotection. Many studies stated that dysbiosis is closely linked with the abovementioned health conditions, and the extremely poor bioavailability of PACs, directly associated with the structural diversity, leads to extensively metabolized through gut microbiota (GM). GM transforms PACs into bioactive metabolites. Conversely, PACs also modulate the gut microbiome and the composition of GM. Thus, the complex bidirectional interactions between PACs and gut microbiota might help to understand the ambiguity between bioavailability and pleiotropic bioactivity. In this review, we summarize recent in vivo and in vitro studies from the aspect of intestinal function of PACs and its associated disease, as well as the underlying mechanisms.

Influence of protein coronas between carbon nanoparticles extracted from roasted chicken and pepsin on the digestion of soy protein isolate.

Food-derived nanoparticles are inevitably ingested with food matrices and may negatively affect digestion. In this study, the bio-distribution of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) extracted from roasted chicken in the gastrointestinal tract was investigated. Their biological effects on the digestion of soy protein isolate (SPI) with pepsin were explored by spectroscopic, morphological, and enzymatic methods. In vitro simulated digestion results showed that the digestibility of SPI was decreased from 93.53% to 79.56% in gastric juice with 10% CNPs. The CNPs were able to significantly reduce the activity of pepsin and disrupt its secondary structure (P < 0.05). Ultraviolet-visible spectrometry demonstrated that CNPs exhibited a physical absorption effect on pepsin and quenched its fluorescence in a static model. The results of zeta potential and atomic force microscopy proved that the CNPs formed a nanoparticle-protein corona structure with pepsin, which could affect the digestion of SPI.

Recent trends and advances in the epidemiology, synergism, and delivery system of lycopene as an anti-cancer agent.

Dietary interventions are key nutritional strategies to prevent, improve, and prolong the survival of cancer patients. Lycopene, one of the strongest natural antioxidants, and its biologically active metabolites, have shown significant potential to prevent a variety of cancers, including prostate, breast, and stomach cancers, making it a promising anti-cancer agent. We review the potential regulatory mechanisms and epidemiological evidences of lycopene and its metabolites to delay the progression of cancers at different developmental stages. Recent studies have revealed that lycopene and its metabolites mediate multiple molecular mechanisms in cancer treatment such as redox homeostasis, selective anti-proliferation, apoptosis, anti-angiogenesis, tumour microenvironment regulation, and anti-metastasis and anti-invasion. Gut microbes and cholesterol metabolism are also the potential regulation targets of lycopene and its metabolites. As a dietary supplement, the synergistic interaction of lycopene with other drugs and nutrients is highlighted especially due to its binding activity with other nutrients in the diet found central to the fight against cancer. Furthermore, the application of several of novel lycopene delivery carriers are on the rise including nanoemulsions, nanostructured liposomes, and polymer nanoparticles for cancer prevention as discussed in this review with future needed development. Moreover, the synergistic mechanism between lycopene and other nutrients or drugs and novel delivery systems of lycopene should now be deeply investigated to improve its clinical application in cancer intervention in the future.

Fluorescence nanoparticles from instant coffee accumulated in lysosome and induced lysosome-dependent cell death via necroptosis-like pathway.

Fluorescence nanoparticles (FNs) are a type of nano-dots generated during baking process, and their safety on organism is unclear and little is known to their cytotoxicity. In this study, the FNs from instant coffee were purified and characterized. The FNs with an average size about 2.08 nm emitted bright blue fluorescence with lifetime about 2.74 ns. The element and functional groups were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. The results indicated that these FNs were internalized in lysosomes and induced apoptosis of normal rat kidney (NRK) and Caco-2 cells. While, the pan-caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-FMK didn't decrease the rate of apoptosis and cell death of the FNs-treated NRK and Caco-2 cells. These internalized FNs enlarged lysosomes, decreased lysosomal enzyme degradation activity and increased lysosomal pH value. Partial co-localization of receptor-interacting serine-threonine kinase 3 (RIPK3) to lysosomes in FNs-treated cells was observed, and the amount of RIPK1 and RIPK3 increased after treatment with FNs. The results demonstrated that the FNs from instant coffee induced lysosomal membrane permeabilization and initiated necroptosis.

Carbon dots from roasted chicken accumulate in lysosomes and induce lysosome-dependent cell death.

Thermal processing may generate toxicants. Carbon dots (CDs) from baked foods are toxic to cells; however, their molecular mechanism is still unexplored to date. The present study investigated the effects of CDs from roasted chicken breasts on normal rat kidney (NRK) and Caco-2 cells. The average size of CDs heated at 200 °C and 300 °C was about 2.8 nm and 1.2 nm, respectively. The element and surface groups of CDs were analyzed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. It was confirmed that the CDs were internalized in lysosomes and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, Z-VAD-FMK did not decrease the rate of apoptosis. The acquired data further confirmed that these internalized CDs enlarged lysosomes, decreased the lysosomal enzyme degradation activity and increased the lysosomal pH value. An increase in the co-localization of RIPK3 in lysosomes in the CD-treated groups was observed. The CD treatment increased the protein level of receptor interaction protein 1 (RIPK1) and receptor interaction protein 3 (RIPK3). Overall, CDs from the baked chicken breast induced lysosomal membrane permeabilization and initiated lysosome-dependent cell death and necroptosis. Our results elucidated the toxic mechanism of CDs from baked chicken breast and implied that food thermal processing at a lower temperature is beneficial to human health.

Hydrophilic Food-Borne Nanoparticles from Beef Broth as Novel Nanocarriers for Zinc.

Food-borne nanoparticles (FNs) may be used as nanocarriers for metal ion chelation in micronutrient supplements. In this paper, the preparation and characterization of hydrophilic FNs were reported from beef broth cooked with a pressure cooker at 117 °C for different periods (30, 50, and 70 min) and their potential application as nanocarriers for zinc was investigated. The broth FNs are quasi-spherical with good water solubility and ultrasmall size, which can emit a strong sapphire color under 365 nm ultraviolet irradiation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that there are carboxyl, amino, and hydroxyl groups on the FNs, which are useful for Zn(II) chelation. The vibration band of C═O at 1688 cm-1 in the infrared spectrum of FNs shifted to 1718 cm-1 after binding with Zn(II) ions, suggesting the participation of the carbonyl group in Zn(II) ion chelation. The appearance of Zn2p XPS peaks, at 1021.6 and 1045 eV for Zn(II)-FNs, clearly demonstrated the formation of Zn-O between the FNs and zinc ions. Biodistribution of FNs and the Zn(II)-FN complex in normal rat kidney cells demonstrated that they could easily enter normal rat kidney cells. A downfield was found for the signals of Zn(II)-FNs in 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and strongly suggested the binding of Zn(II) ions to FNs through carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, and amine groups. In addition, no obvious cytotoxicity was found for Zn(II)-FNs compared to zinc (ZnSO4) and commercial zinc gluconate. The results revealed that the FNs from beef broth may have a potential as nanocarriers for zinc chelation.

Bio-distribution and interaction with dopamine of fluorescent nanodots from roasted chicken.

The potential health risks of food-borne nanoparticles are of great concern to public health. In this work, the formation and physicochemical properties of a class of fluorescent nanodots (FNDs) in roasted chicken were investigated. It was found that as the roasting temperature increased from 200 to 300 °C the size of the FNDs decreased significantly, from 17.1 to 2.1 nm. The FNDs, which mainly contain carbon (65%), are strongly fluorescent under ultraviolet light, exhibiting an excitation-dependent emission behavior. The fluorescence quantum yields of the FNDs were determined at 200, 250, and 300 °C, and were found to be 6.71 ± 0.21, 12.85 ± 0.34 and 17.46 ± 0.42%, respectively. These FNDs not only could be taken up by live cells and dispersed within the cytoplasm, but also could pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and accumulated in the brains of mice after oral feeding. The results of the fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis clearly indicated that the FNDs can interact with the neurotransmitter dopamine in vitro through the formation of fluorescent conjugates. The relative cell viability decreased by 33% corresponding to FND-300 at a concentration of 4 mg mL-1. These results confirmed the presence of the FNDs in roasted chicken and revealed their potential bioeffects on human health, which calls for more research and evaluation.

Characterization of Endogenous Nanoparticles from Roasted Chicken Breasts.

Emergence of endogenous nanoparticles in thermally processed food has aroused much attention due to their unique properties and potential biological impact. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of fluorescence nanoparticles in roasted chicken breasts, elemental composition, physicochemical properties, and their molecular interaction with human serum albumin (HSA). Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that the foodborne nanoparticles from roasted chicken were nearly spherical with an average particle size of 1.7 ± 0.4 nm. The elemental analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed the composition of nanoparticles as 47.4% C, 25.8% O, and 26.1% N. The fluorescence of HSA was quenched by the nanoparticles following a static mode, and the molecular interaction of nanoparticles with HSA was spontaneous (Δ G0 < 0), where hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces played an important role during HSA-nanoparticles complex stabilization through thermodynamic analysis by isothermal titration calorimetry. The principal location of the nanoparticles binding site on HSA was primarily in site I as determined by site-specific marker competition. The conformational of HSA was also changed and α-helical structure decreased in the presence of nanoparticles. Our studies revealed that fluorescent nanoparticles were produced after roasting of chicken breast at 230 °C for 30 min for the first time. The obtained nanoparticles can interact with HSA in a spontaneous manner, thus providing valuable insight into foodborne NPs as well as their effects to human albumin protein.

Ultrasmall fluorescent nanoparticles derived from roast duck: their physicochemical characteristics and interaction with human serum albumin.

Fluorescent nanoparticles (FNPs) produced from roast meat have drawn widespread attention due to their potential hazards to human health. In this paper, the presence of ultrasmall FNPs in roast duck and their interaction with human serum albumin (HSA) were reported. The processing-induced FNPs have an average size of 1.3 nm with a relative fluorescence quantum yield of 4.4%. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the FNPs are composed of carbon (70.48%), nitrogen (6.25%), oxygen (22.17%) and sulfur (1.11%), with hydroxyl, carboxyl and amino groups present on their surface. The presence of FNPs could cause fluorescence quenching of HSA, which was ascribed to the static quenching mechanism via the electrostatic interaction as analyzed by isothermal titration calorimetry. The α-helix contents of HSA decreased after the addition of FNPs, demonstrating that these processing-induced FNPs could cause structural alteration of HSA. These results provided insights into the formation of nanoparticles in roast duck, and offered important information about the binding mechanism of these nanoparticles with HSA, which may have physiological implications.

Fluorescent nanoparticles from mature vinegar: their properties and interaction with dopamine.

Naturally occurring nanoparticles may be present in food. In this paper we report the discovery of fluorescent nanoparticles (FNs) in Chinese mature vinegar. The physicochemical properties of these FNs were investigated. The FNs were shown to emit bright blue fluorescence under the irradiation of ultraviolet light, with a fluorescence quantum yield of 5.71%. They are highly soluble in aqueous solution, and exhibit excitation-dependent emission behavior. TEM characterization showed that the average size of FNs is about 1.40 ± 0.40 nm, and the morphology of FNs is mainly spherical. The physicochemical properties of FNs are similar to those of artificially synthesized carbon dots. Furthermore, the interaction between FNs and dopamine was studied, and the fluorescence of FNs varied gradually from a blue, to a cyan and finally to a green color with increasing dopamine concentration. The fluorescence decay dynamics revealed that Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) occurred between the FNs and polymerized dopamine. This result suggests that the FNs from Chinese mature vinegar can interact with dopamine, which may add a new perspective to the potential health implications of foodborne nanoparticles.